Teenage rape suspect being tried as an adult

The Turlock teenager arrested for attacking a woman in Donnelly Park last year is being tried as an adult on multiple charges, including an allegation of attempted rape.

Jason Daniel Lara, who is now 18 but was 17 at the time of the incident, is charged with kidnapping for the purpose of rape and assault with intent to commit rape for the July 5, 2013, attack.

The victim of the attack was a 43-year-old Turlock woman identified only as Jane Doe in court records.

A preliminary hearing was held for Lara in November 2013. A Stanislaus County Superior Court judge ruled there was enough cause to hold Lara over for trial on the charges filed against him by the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office.

Lara appeared in court Friday for a brief pretrial hearing. A trial date has not been set at this time.

During the preliminary hearing Jane Doe described her run through Donnelly Park as something she did routinely in the early morning hours. She had just about made one lap around the park shortly before 5 a.m. July 5, when she was attacked from behind.

The woman said the assailant grabbed her and started dragging her off the path. She stated she was carried several feet to an isolated area of the park before the suspect threw her down and climbed on top of her.

The woman said she continued to fight against the attacker and that she was able to free herself from his grasp while he was trying to kiss her on the mouth. The woman ran for help as the suspect fled the park.

The woman gave a detailed description of the attacker to the Turlock Police officers and a search of the area was conducted, but no suspect was found. A few hours later an officer on patrol spotted Lara and saw that he fit the description the woman had provided. Lara was taken into custody and was positively identified by the woman as her attacker.

The defense has argued that Lara’s arrest is a case of mistaken identity.